<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1666033706258,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017a-bf0a-d0ae-abff-bf4b55780000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1666033706258,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017a-bf0a-d0ae-abff-bf4b55780000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_66018039", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1119392"} }); ","_id":"00000183-e758-da74-a1bf-efd8cc700000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedA Christian childcare teacher in California filed a lawsuit last week against her former employer alleging she had been fired and ill-treated because she refused to read books featuring LGBT themes to young children.
Nelli Parisenkova’s attorneys filed the suit in the Superior Court of California on Thursday and named Bright Horizons Children’s Center and Studio City location director Katy Callas as defendants.
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Parisenkova said she looked after children aged 5 and under and knew Bright Horizons Children’s Center made LGBT-themed books available to be read to the children.
However, the former caregiver alleged that she was provided an “informal accommodation” by a supervisor, wherein she was not required to read the books, until Callas discovered Parisenkova’s religious objection.
Upon Callas’s discovery, the director denied Parisenkova’s request for a religious accommodation and fomented a hostile work environment that eventually lead to the educator’s firing, according to the lawsuit.
After she was called into the director’s office, Callas “questioned her in an irate manner, told her that if she did not want to celebrate diversity this was not the place for her to work, gave her an administrative leave memo, escorted her outside with a security guard, and left her out in the 96-degree heat with no transportation,” according to the complaint.
Reading the books would “violate her religious beliefs and constitute promotion of intimate relationships and choices that are contrary to the teachings of her faith,” the complaint reads.
“Parisenkova formally requested a religious accommodation from Bright Horizons that aligned with her prior informally granted request. Bright Horizons responded by categorically denying the request,” the suit adds.
It also alleges that Bright Horizons “made no attempt whatsoever to determine whether a reasonable accommodation could be reached.”
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Nelli P Complaint FINAL by Julia Johnson on Scribd
","_id":"00000183-e774-d2c9-a9e3-f77c6a2d0000","_type":"00000161-b425-d761-a563-f7e77e270000"}”>iFrame Object”Instead, Bright Horizons issued a counseling memo with false statements, terminated her life insurance benefits, required her to complete retraining in diversity issues, and encouraged her to resign her position,” it reads. “Ms. Parisenkova could not return to work without an accommodation; so, Bright Horizons terminated her employment.”
Claims levied against Bright Horizons and Callas include retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, constructive discharge, religious discrimination, and harassment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“They tried to get her to quit through harassment and intimidation. When she couldn’t return to work because they denied her accommodation request, they fired her,” Paul Jonna, an attorney representing Parisenkova, said. “You can’t get much more discriminatory than that. It’s unethical, and it’s blatantly illegal.”
